Car-truck



. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. M. BRILL. I

GAR TRUCK.

(No Model.)

Patented July 5, 1892.

- INVENT on! Gemye/ Bra -r-r EST: v

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

G.v M. BRILL.

GAR TRUCK.

Patented July 5, 1892.

JNVENTUH Gemyemntzlnjrill/ Q W 1 Jfitorr UNITED STATES ATENT -FF1cE.

GEORGE MARTIN BRILL, or PIIlLADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.-

CAR-TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 478,218, dated July 5, 1892.

Application filed June 26, 1891.

Serial No. 397,563. on) model.)

T at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE MARTIN BRILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have made new and useful Improvements in Car-Trucks, of. which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the application of what is known as an extended spring-base to trucks for street-cars.

The main object of my invention is to enable a truck of comparatively short wheelbaseto be used and to support a car-body upon it, the ends of which overhang the ends of the truck for some distance- My invention is also intended to overcome in a measure the end vibration or oscillation of the car-body and movable portion of the truck to which the car issecured.

In my structure I mount upon the axleboxes, either rigidly or flexibly, what are known in the art as side beams, which singly or when united laterally form a frame which is not aifeeted either by the up-anddown vihrationsot' the car-body or movable portion of the truck or when the said frame is flexibly supported upon the axle-boxes by the lateral thrust of the axles. At a point where the sidebeams extend close-to the axleboxes they are secured to axle-box saddles, which saddles have extensions which provide seats for the'axle-box springs, (so-called,)

- and are also apertured to permitspring-posts ass through them. Upon these axle-box springs (which, in conjunction with the springposts and bracing for the same, form the pedestals for the axle-boxes) rests the upper chord The upper part of the springper chord resting upon the said axle box springs, and through the instrumentality of certain bracing to be hereinafter describeda movable truck-frame is secured. This upper chord and its accompanying bracing, including theaxle-boxbracing, form the movable part of the structure, which partakes of the upanddown movement of the car-body, this motion xbeing ordinarily taken upon the axle-box springs. The upper chord and its bracing are herein termed the movable portion" of the truck structure, the side beams with or without their lateral connections the independent frame, and the spiral springs shown in the drawings the axle-box springs. The side or longitudinal sections of the upper chord are extended for some distance beyond the axle-boxes, and the side beams are also likewise extended. The upper chord is thus extended for the purpose of giving a firm bottom for the car and through the instrumenfurther on a greater carrying capacity. spiral springs, which are supported by or about the axle-boxes, normally take the weight of the car;

Between'the extended sections of the upper chord and the side beams I place elliptical springs, which preferably ext-end longitudinally of the truck and which are so disposed that they will not be broughtinto action until the weight of the load on the axlebox springs begins to depress said springs abnormally. Then the elliptical springs begin to act and assist the spiral springs in resisting the pressure ofthe load.

' In the present practice, where cars of great carrying capacity are used upon roads having sharp and frequent curves, it is necessary to provide as short a wheel-base as possible in order that the rounding of such curves may be successfully performed, and also to promrativel a ver lar e extension outward] support the car-body on the truck, by which a greater carrying capacity is obtained. This gives the opportunity to carrygreater loads, and under such conditions it has been found necessary to use springs which are stronger than usual to support the car-body on the truck. These heavy springs have their disadvantages, as they were found to be too quick in their action. 'loovercome this, it has been attempted to use supplemental spi ral springs between the extended portion of 'the'spring-base and the car-body-such, for instance, as spiral springs at or upon the axle-boxes and supplemental spiral springs located elsewhere between the .extended spring-base and the car-body. This has not been found to work satisfactorily, and an adaptation of my invention consists inmak ingtheaxle-boxspringscomparativelyweaker and slower than has formerly been done ahd vide an upper chord which will have com tality of the supporting devices described The I from the axle-boxes, in order to more rigidly to place elliptical springs in such a way as to assist the spiral springs in resisting the abnormal depression ofthe car and in equalizing the end oscillation of the same, the el-' liptical springs being slower in their actio than the spiral springs.

In practice it has also been found that where a very heavy load has been carried on an extended portion of the side beams they have been very apt to break or fracture at or near the axle-boxes, and this very often occurs .where the sections of the side beams are united together at the axle-boxes by means of a saddle which straddles the axle-box, the saddles splitting over the axle-boxes.

A part of my present invention is to pro vide a truss or brace for the purpose of supporting the extended ends of the side beam.

My invention also consists in the details of the truck structure and combination of parts hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my truck; Fig. 2, an end elevation of the same from either end;-Fig. 3, a vertical section taken on the line :r as, Fig. 1.

Similar numerals of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings, 1 and '2 are the wheels; 3, the axles, (but one is shown in i:ull,) and 4 5 the axle-boxes.

6 and 7 are saddles supported on the axleboxes either rigidly, flexibly, or in such a manner as to be capable ofa movement in the line of the axle. If desired, an elastic cushion of rubber or such like material 5' can be placed between the saddles and axle-boxes.

The saddles areprovided with'extensions 89 10 11, which provide supports for what I have termed the axle-box springs. The central longitudinal sections 12 of the side beams are secured at their end-s to the legs 8 and 11 of the axle-box saddles ateach side thereof, and

. the outwardly-extending sections which form the base or bed of the extended spring-base are formed of the sections 13 and 14, the ends. of which are secured to the legs 9 and 10 of thesaddles on both sides thereof. These extensions 13 and .14 extend some distance .out from the axle-boxes-in .fact, to an extent much greater than that ordinarily resorted to. The lower ends of the saddles 6 and 7 are closed by cross-bars 15 and 16, bolted or oth erwise secured "thereto. The side beams may be united laterally to form an integral frame; but this does not enterinto the resentinven tion to any material exteu t, an so I have not shown them as united,for the side beams act herein as an independentframe orsupport.

This truck is to be distinguished from trucks of the ordinary structure by reason of the fact that it comprises two distinct partsoue part comprising (apart from the running-gear) the side beams or frame and another part comprising the upper chord with its bracing and: spring-posts. The first I shall term the stationary frame, (althoughit is not stationary in the true sense of the word, because there with bolts 24.

is a play of the axles in the boxes and there may 'be a movement of the side beams,) because it is not affected by the movement of the car-body to any appreciable extent, and the other the movable portion of the structure, for the reason that it partakes of the upand-down ward movement of the car-body and all its movements on its supporting-springs.

The movable structure comprises the following parts: The upper chord upon which the body of the car rests is shown at .17. It

is rectangular in form, preferably, and has 5 longitudinal side sections 18 and lateral end sections 19, and it may be 'formed or constructed in the usual manner and is provided with extensions 20. Spring-plates 21 22 are secured to the upper chord in any desirable manner. h 23 are spring-posts which extend through thelegs of the saddles downwardly and upwardly through the spring-plates and upper chord, at which end they are provided 25 are what I call the axlebox springs, which surround the springposts and which find seats at one end in the spring-plates 21 22 and at theirlower ends in, the legs of the axle box saddles. 26 are crossbars uniting the ends of the spring-posts which pass through them, the said cross-bars being secured by means of the bolts 27. The

inner spring-posts are connected together by a longitudinal truss-rod 28, through which the spring-posts pass, the ends of said trussrod being located between the bottom of the saddles and the cross-bars 26. The cross-bars 26 are squared on the spring-posts bya block 29, inserted between them and the bottom of the saddles. A perpendicular truss-rod 30, located between-theinner spring-posts, is secured at one end to tlie upper chord and at the other to the longitudinal truss-rod 28. The foregoing parts comprise what I term the movable, portion of the truck-structnre, only some of the details thereof are immaterial. As has been before stated, the upper chord is extended outwardly from the axles to a more than ordinary degree, and thisis intended for the purpose of givinga firm bottom for the carbody and a greater carrying capacity forthe truck. It is therefore clear that more than theordinary load is intended to be carried on this structure, and for this reason more than ordinary devices for spring supporting the car-body are necessary. To this end I supplement the axle-box springs by placing elliptical springs of slower actiou betweenthe extended portions or sections of the side beams and upper chord and so arrange them in respect to each other that the elliptical springs will not come into play until after the axle-box springs have begun to compress, and the action of the spirals in lifting the car-body is continued after the elliptical springs have ceased to act. The devices whichsecure the elliptical springs between the side beams and the upper chord are devised to permit one end of the upper chord to approach the side beams and the other loo ITO

construction of the straps is best seen in Fig.

3 in section. They are preferably composite, as shown, being formed of two saddles 3435, one straddling the side beams and upon which the spring 34' rests, the other being secured v to the lower saddle and straddling the spring. The lower saddle 35 has legs 36, by means of which it is secured to the side beams by the bolts 37. It also has projections 38 and a flat top 39, and upon this flat top the elliptical springs rest. The upper saddle comprises the walls 40, top 41,- and lugs 42, the lugs 42 being secured to the lugs 38 of the lower saddles by means of the bolts 43. A plate may be inserted between'the top of the'up'per sad- .dle to rigidly secure the spring in place.

From the forcgoing'structur it will beseen that the springs are rigidlyflsecured to the side beams. They, however, are not secured rigidlyv to the upper chord, so that any upward movement of it will not afiect them. The upper chord, however, is provided with means for retaining the upper half of the springs perpendicular to the side beams.

Secured to the upper chord, preferably upon one of the extended ends 20, is a cap 45, having the downwardly-extending legs 46. The cap is interiorly chambered, so as to permit the elliptical spring 34' to move within it, the

legs 46 acting to keep the said spring perpendicular, while space is left between the inner top portion of the cap and the top of the spring to permit the upper chord to be depressed some distance before the cap begins to depress the elliptical spring. A plate 47 is attached to the top of the spring to prevent the cap wearing on the spring at this point.

Under conditions which prevail in trucks of this structure it is veryin portant that the extended ends of the side b ams be properly braced in order to sustain the heavy load carried upon them. This I accomplish in the following manner: The side beams are provided with lugs 48 near to the 'end thereof, and-the saddles 6 and 7 are provided with outwardly-extending lugs 49 on the inner and outer plates of the saddles. These lugs support the longitudinal and downwardly-extending brace 50, which at its ends are secured to the lugs 48 on the side beams,,and which-is preferably provided with a turnbuckle 51,10- cated betweenthe said lugs. myself to the use of the two braces on each side, as one may be found to be sufficient.

It will be seen that this method of bracing gives a greater carrying capacity to the ends of the side beams, permitting them to carry great loads without fracturing the saddles,

I do not limit upon which in thiscase a considerable portion of the strain would come, when by reason of excessive loading .ofthe' car-body, and consequent depression of the springs, a portion of this action would be'taken on thesprings supported on the ends of the side beams. When the excessive loading is not present, the springs on the ends of the side beams act as buffers, the ordinary action of the car-body on the truck being taken up by by the spiral springs.

The brace 50 can be very advantageously v.

used when what is known as a gearless moany other reason the upper chord could be omitted and thespring-plates T21 22, truss-rod 30, caps 45, and spring-posts could be secured to the sills or frame of the car-body without departing from the nature of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. In amotor-truck, the combination, with a stationary frame supported upon the running-gear, said frame having sections extending outwardly from the axle, of a movable frame supported 1 upon said truck, spiralsprings located between the movable and stationary frames, and ellipticalsprings located between the extended sect ionsof the said rigid frame and the movable frame, substantially as described. I

2. In a truck, a spring-supporting frame supported upon the runningear by saddles and having sections extending outwardly fromthe axles, a movable frame havinglike extensions, spiral springs located between the saddles and movable frame, and elliptical springs located between the spring-supporting frame and the movable frame, substantially as described.

3. In a truck,a stationaryframe supported upon the running-gear of said truck having sections'extending' outwardly from the axles,

a movable frame carried by said truck, springs located between the stationary andmovable frames and between theex'tended sections of both frames, and a brace for said extended sections of the stationary frame, secured to said extended sections and supported upon the running-gear of the truck, substantially as described..

4."Ina truck-,a stationary frame supported on its running-gear by saddles and having sections extending outwardly from the axles,

a movable frame with-extending sections, springs located between the stationary and sections extending outwardly fromtheaxles,

saddles secured to stationary frame and supported on the axle-boxes, a movable frame having outwardly-extending sections, spiral I springs located between the saddles and the movable frame,

for said extended sections, supported upon the saddles, the ends of which are secured to said extended sections, substantially as described.

6. A spring-supporting frame for a truck, comprising the saddles adapted to straddle the axle 7 boxes, beams extending between and secured to said saddles, additional beams secured to and extending outwardly from said saddles, and a brace supported upon said saddles and se cured at its outer ends to the outwardly-extending beams, substantially as described.

7. A spring-supporting frame for a truck, comprising the saddles 6 and 7, having projections for supporting the truck-springs, outwardly-extending lugs 49 on the saddles, central sections 12 of the side beams, secured to the saddles, outwardly-extending sections 13 14 of the side beams, secured to the said saddles, crossbar-s 15 16, uniting the ends of the side-beam sections, lugs 48 on the sections 13 14 of the side beams, a brace 50, secured to said lugs 48- and extending over the lugs 49 on the saddles, and a turnbuckle 51 for tightening said brace, substantially asdcscribed.

8. In a truck, a spring-supporting frame supported upon the running-gear by saddles and having sections extending outwardly from the axles,a movable frame having like extensions, spiral springs located between the saddles and-movable frame, and elliptical springs located between the spring-supporting frame and the movable frame, and braces for the extended ends of the spring-supporting frame, secured thereto and resting on the saddles, substantially as described.

9. In atruck,thc combination of two frames, one stationary and supported upon the running-gear, the other movable, and a plurality of springs located between the stationary and movable frames, some of said series being adapted to be compressed by the downward movement of said movable frame subsequent to the compression of otherot' thc'scries, sul stantially as described.

10. In a truck, the frames, one sthtionaryaud supported upon the ruuning-gearof the truck, the other adapted to be moved toward said stationaryframe, springs located between the ends of both frames, and springs otherwise disposed between the two framcs, the end springs being elliptical springs located be-- tween the movable frame and the extended sections of the stationary frame, and a brace longitudinally extending combination of two.

adapted to be compressed subsequent to the compression of the other springs, substantially as described.

11. In a truck, a stationary spring-supporting frame having at its ends elliptical springs rigidly secured thereto, in combination with a movable frame supported by springs other than said elliptical springs, said movable frame being provided with devices for engagin g said elliptical springs, the elliptical springs being adapted to be brought into action subsequent to the springs supporting the movable frame, substantially as described.

12. In a truck, a spring-supporting stationary frame mounted on the running-gear of said truck, said frame being composed of a plurality of bars contiguously disposed, a saddle secured to the outer sections of said bars, an elliptical spring the lower section of which rests upon said saddle, and a second saddle disposed overthe first and the spring and secured to the first saddle, a movable frame, and a spring supported upon the stationaryframe and having devices for guiding the upper section of 'the elliptical spring, substantially as described.

13. In a truck, the combination of two frames, the one stationary and supported upon the running-gear, the other movable, said stationary frame having the contiguouslydisposed beams 14, a saddle 35, closed at the top and having legs 36 secured to the beams 14 and projections 38, a second saddle closed at the top and secured to the projectionsfiii, an elliptical spring 34:, held between the two saddles, and a cap i5, having downwardlyextending legs '16 secured to the movable frame, the ends of which engage the uppcrsoction otsaid elliptical spring, substantially as described.

14-. A true]; having running-gear and a frame, and spiral springs for supporting the car-body, supplemented by elliptical springs adapted to coact therewith, the spirals being adapted to be compressed prior To the ellipticals, substantially as described.

15. A truck having side beams disposed about the axle-boxes and a brace extending between the axle-boxes and secured to the side beams, substantially as described.

16. A truck having side beams disposed about the axle-boxes and a brace supported upon or above the axle-boxes and secured to the side beams, substantially as described.

17. The upper chord having the depending cap 45, with downwardly-exteiuling legs 4-6, and elliptical springs held on the side beznns, adapted to move in said cap, substantially as described.

18. "lhesaddlc 35, having the legs 36 secured to the side beams and projections 25b, and the saddle 34, provided with projections 42, secured to like parts on the saddle 35, substantially as described.

19. The side beams on the axle-boxes, axlebox saddlesfi 7, having the lngsor projections 49 above the axle-b0 xes, and a brace supported ITO thereon and secured to the side beams, substantially as described.

20. A truck having side beams disposed about the axle-boxes, a brace supported upon or above the axle-boxes, extending; between them and secured thereto, and means for tightening the said brace, substantially as described.

21/ The side beams intermitted about the axle-boxes, saddles for supporting the side beams on the axle-boxes, and a brace supported on the saddles above the side beams and secured to the side beams, substantially as described.

22. he saddles (3 7, supported on the axlehoxes, lugs 49 on the saddles, side-beam sections 12 13 14, secured to the saddles, and a brace 50, supported on the lugs 49 and secured to the sections 13 14 of the side beams, substantially as described.

23. A frame foratruck, comprising the saddles 6 .7, having projections for supporting the truck-springs, lugs 49 011 the saddles, central side-beam sections 12, secured to the saddles, outwardly-extending side-beam sections 13 14, secured to the saddles, and abrace 50, secured to the sections 13 14 and supported on the lugs 49 of the saddles, substantially as described.

St. A frame fora truck, comprising the saddles 6 7, having projections for supporting the truck-springs, lugs 49 on the saddles, central side-beam sections 12, secured to the saddies, outwardly-extending side-beam sections 13 14, secured to the saddles, a brace 50, se-

cured to the side-beam sections 13-14 and supl F' ported on. the lugs 4-9, and a turnbuckle i for tightening said brace, substantially as de scribed.

25. The saddles (3 7, straddling the axle- I boxes and open beloi'ithe same, lugs 49 on the saddles, side-beam sections 12 1.3 1i, secured to the saddles, and a brace 50, secured to the side-beam sections 13 14 and supported on the lugs 49, substantially as described.

26. The saddle 35, secured to the side beams, the saddle 4-0, secured to thesaddlcfio, and an upwardly-extending elliptical spring held between the two saddles, substantially as described.

27. In a truck, a stationary spring-supporting frame mounted on the runningfgear of said truck, having outwardly-extending sections and elliptical springs secured to the stationary frame, and 'a inovable frame spring supported upon the said stationary frame, having a device for guiding the upper portion of the elliptical springs, substantially as de-. scribed. v

28. Sidebeanissupportedupontherunnlnggear and extending past the same and a brace detachably supported upon the running-gear or a portion thereof and secured to the extended ends to' the side beams, substantially as described.

Signed at the city and State of New Yorkthis 13th day of June, 1891.

GEORGE MARTIN BRILL.

Witnesses:

R. S. REED, L. R. RANDOLF;

478,218. George Martin Bv'ill, Philadelphia, Pa.

Patent dated July 5, 1892. Disclaimer filed October 13, 1900, by John A. Brill,

assignee, and the J. G. Brill Company, licensee.

IMPROVEMENT 1N CAR-TRUCKS.

Enter their disclaimer Of claim seventeen (17) thereof, which is in the following Words:

17. The upper ohord having the depending cap 45, with downwardly-extending legs 46, and elliptical springs held on the side beams, adapted to move in said cap,

substantially as described. [Ofiicial Gazette, October 28, 1900.] 

